Families Calling for Justice in Police Killings Prevented from Marching to Police Station

A community barbeque and speak-out was held on April 12 in Stockton, California, organized by the Inter Council for Mothers of Murdered Children. Dionne Smith and Carey Downs led the speakout, providing updates on their struggle for justice in the Stockton police killing of their son, James Rivera Jr. Other families came to talk about their children who have been killed by the Stockton police.

After the speakout and before eating, people tried to leave the barbecue for a peaceful march to the police station and back, with young children holding a banner in the lead. A whole troop of police in riot gear came from out of nowhere, blocking the exits from the park from every side. After several attempts to get around them, people came back to eat the food, with the police still surrounding the park.